Getting flashbacks

*Willa*

I walk into the room, wondering what will happen now. Kind of feeling butterflies tumbling around in my stomach at the thought of seeing him again. Both men stand up as I enter, like proper gentlemen.

"Welcome, I am Willa." I extend my hand towards Joel first, as he is closer. Then I tell him, as the truth is, "Such a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Jacobs. I am a big admirer of your work."

He grabs my hand, kissing it while sending me one of those famous smirks, his eyes twinkling. "Thank you, but the pleasure is all mine, Willa, and please call me Joel."

"Then welcome, Joel. I hope we will have some fun days doing this," I say, smiling at him. I already like him, and I think he is going to be easy and fun to work with.

I take a deep breath before turning towards Levi, not sure how I will really react to meeting him face to face and wondering if he remembers me at all and if he does, what he will say.

He is standing right behind me, much closer than I expected him to be, and I gasp a little in surprise as I turn and stare right into his chest. I have to look up to see his face.

He has changed quite a bit; gone is the almost angelic youth with the dark curls and instead stands a very handsome man, with wide shoulders and a powerful aura. But the eyes catching mine are exactly the same hazel depths of wonders, pulling me under, back to the last time I was in the same spot.

15 years ago:

"This is my brother Levi. Levi, this is Willa, you know, mom told you about her and her… mother," Emma says, and I just stand here blushing, looking at the young man in front of me.

I have just turned 17, and the truth is that my mom is dying from cancer. She is currently going through an alternative treatment program, which is very hard on her. As my father left before I was born and I don't really have anyone else, my mom's old school friend, Diana Thomsen, had graciously invited me to stay with her family for a while.

It is my second week here, and Emma had told me that her older brother would be home from Harvard this weekend. She had also said that he was the sweetest guy, almost too sweet for his own good.

He was also, from what she said, really really smart, and their father was disappointed he wants to be an actor instead of a lawyer or doctor. But according to Emma, he is actually really talented and has been in several plays and has had some small roles on TV.

I don’t know what I had expected, but it wasn’t this. Emma had lovingly called him adorkable and called him the labradoodle, so I didn't expect to be standing in front of this almost angelic vision, I mean if angels were hot.

"Oh... Hi... I am Willa," I stutter, looking into the most enchanting hazel eyes I have ever seen, it is like looking into some kind of infinite space, sucking me in, promising to reveal some deep hidden secrets.

He sends me a big happy smile. He has a beautiful smile, and he runs a big hand through the floppy dark curls. "Hi, Willa, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. I hope you like being here, though."

"T... Thank you, L... Levi," I manage to stutter out, feeling like a stupid kid. This handsome boy, well actually I should probably refer to him as a man, as he is 21 years old, is leaving me a blushing, stuttering mess just by being here. I am usually not that type of girl.

As Levi leaves to unpack, Emma rolls her eyes very dramatically, but then she giggles. "Oh God, Willa, way to majorly drool over my brother."

"I didn't, but I thought you said he was a total dork? I think I just expected something different, honestly." I look at her in confusion. I know he is her brother, but how can she not see how gorgeous he is?

She is shaking her head, laughing. "And he is. I mean, look at that hair, and the way he talks, and well, I love him, but he is a big dork… and a huge nerd."

"I think he is kind of handsome," I say, blushing wildly, hoping she won't tell him or hold it against me. "And he seems really nice too."

She raises one eyebrow and giggles again. "I think someone has the hots for my dear brother. Well, as far as I know, he is single, and he could use a nice girlfriend… so I am not gonna object."

"No, I don't. I was just surprised. I expected someone, well, much more nerdy looking from what you told me." I say, looking everywhere but her eyes but still blushing. This is so unlike me, and even more so is talking about it.

Back to the present day:

"Willa? Uhh, Willa, are you present?" I am pulled back from my memories about the first time I met Levi, only to find him looking at me with an amused expression on his handsome face.

I shake my head a bit, feeling somewhat confused and needing to get my bearing back. "Oh, sorry Levi, I think I spaced out just a little bit. Welcome to the show. We are very happy to have you here."

"Well, thank you, Willa. You look just like yourself, darling. Long time no see, what has it been? 15 years. How are you doing?" He sends me a lopsided grin that wreaks havoc on my ovarian system, while holding my hand in both of his.

I swallow and try to look totally unaffected as I answer. "Yeah, to be honest, I wasn't sure you would recognize or even remember me. As you can see, I am doing quite well. And from what I hear and see, you are too."

"Oh, believe me, Willa, you are not someone to be easily forgotten," he says, winking at me, and I hear Joel chuckle behind me. "And well, I guess I am doing good, at least career-wise."

I suddenly have a feeling these will be some very, very long days and I almost regret agreeing to this. I get this weird urge to ask him how often women faint from just being in his presence, as I am right now completely sure it has happened on more than one occasion.